The Astrolabe is the home of drama and theatre at Glastonbury Festival and this year they have a bumper variety of acts gracing their stage, opening on the Thursday evening with compere Stuart Goldsmith kicking off proceedings before a one-off performance by Dom Joly, and closing on the Sunday evening with a performance by festival regulars Taiko Meantime.
In between there’s a host of fantastic theatre to keep festival-goers entertained. We’ve picked out just some of the must-sees below.
George Egg’s Set Menu
George Egg presents something you’ll never have seen before; part comedy show, part cooking show. He creates culinary masterpieces right in front of your eyes without a kitchen. Instead, the food is cooked in a variety of unbelievable, and hilarious ways. If Glastonbury is about experiencing different things, then George Egg’s Set Menu could be for you.
George Egg’s Set Menu is in the Astrolabe at 1:40pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Splash Test Dummies
Many of the Glastonbury Festival will be descending on Worthy Farm, not just with trolleys of supplies, but with buggies and carts in a variety of shapes and sizes, all decked out to provide the best comfort on offer for their kids. And the family-friendly entertainment isn’t restricted to Kidzfield, the Astrolabe presents Splash Test Dummies to keep everyone in the family entertained with their splish splashing circus set to drown you in tears of laughter.
Splash Test Dummies perform in the Astrolabe at 11am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Don’t miss out interview with Splash Test Dummies’ Jamie Bretman.
The Very Best of Tommy Cooper (Just Like That)
Written and performed by Daniel Taylor, this hilarious one-man show focuses on Tommy Cooper’s legendary comedy act, recapturing his trademark mayhem and misfiring magic and includes many of Cooper’s beloved one-liners, dazzling wordplay and celebrated tricks, including Glass/Bottle, Dappy Duck, Spot the Dog and Jar/Spoon. A perfect chance to let up some steam and have a nostalgic laugh in the early evening.
The Very Best of Tommy Cooper (Just Like That) is at the Astrolabe on Friday and Saturday at 6:45pm and Sunday at 5:55pm.
Dom Joly
Multi-award-winning television comedian, journalist and travel-writer Dom Joly, who has recently been travelling through Ukraine, plays a special one-off show in the Astrolabe on the Thursday evening. With the main music acts starting on the Friday of the festival, we predict that Joly’s set will be heaving – so get down early if you want to grab a seat.
Dom Joly performs in the Astrolabe at 7:15pm on Thursday.
Rod Laver
Rod Laver has rightfully gained a reputation for being one of Europe’s most entertaining and innovative jugglers over the last 30 years with his unique brand of ping pong juggling. Described by Derren Brown as “A triumph! Bizarre, breath-taking…truly unique…” his performances are a perfectly-timed 15 minutes of entertainment that fits perfectly into your festival lunchtime routine – do you need any more convincing that Laver is an act not to be missed?
Rod Laver plays the Astrolabe at 1:20pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Read our interview with Rod Laver here.
Flash Bang Brass
Flash Bang Brass perform covers and mashups of music ranging from drum’n’bass to 80s classics, with fully synchronised light shows and choreographed routines. With a line up of trumpets, trombones and sousaphone and a hoard of drums, this band gives you maximum energy from start to finish.
Flash Bang Brass play the Astrolabe at 8:25pm on Thursday and at 12:30am on Friday and Saturday.
Read our interview with Flash Bang Brass here.
Doreen Doreen
Doreen Doreen are a flamboyant bunch of entertainers hailing from nearby Bristol. Originally formed in 1982, this colourful, glittery, sparkly, Lycra-wearing bunch of crazies have enough energy and enthusiasm to get even the most beige party pumping. They create incongruous mash-ups you’d never dream of… Abba with Queen, Eurythmics with Erasure, Adele with The Beatles to name a few. The perfect late night offering for your post-headliner fix.
Doreen Doreen play the Astrolabe from 1:20am on Friday and Saturday night, or at 11:45pm on Sunday on the Sensation Seekers Stage.
